Efficacy and Safety of the Iron Chelator Deferiprone in Parkinson's Disease (FAIR-PARK-I)

This study has been completed.

Sponsor:

University Hospital, Lille

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:

NCT00943748

First Posted: July 22, 2009

Last Update Posted: September 3, 2012

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Few available drugs can slow the progression of neurodegenerative pathologies such as Parkinson's disease (PD). One of the recent hypotheses concerning the reduction of oxidative stress and neuron death features a harmful effect of iron, which may reach abnormally high levels in the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta (iron overload has been seen in the substantia nigra in parkinsonian patients and in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD). Iron overload is harmful because it reacts with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) produced during the oxidative deamination of dopamine, generating hydroxyl radicals which then damage proteins, DNA and phospholipid membranes and may be responsible for neuron death. The use of an iron chelator (clioquinol) produces a reduction in neuron death in the MPTP mouse model. In humans, a special, partially refocused interleaved multiple echo (PRIME) MR sequence has been used to study the relaxation time (T2*) and quantify iron overload in the SN of PD patients and the nucleus dentatus of patients with Friedreich's ataxia. T2* sequences have revealed a decrease in iron overload following treatment with the chelator deferiprone, in parallel with a clinical improvement in these patients. Furthermore, the very recent open label use of deferiprone in rare serious, systemic, neurological iron overload diseases (Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA)) has revealed a clinical improvement after 6 months, with 2 case reports from our group and another from an Italian group (Forni et al., 2008). The safety of the low dosages of deferiprone (20 to 30 mg/kg/day) used in neurology appears to be much greater than for the high dosages (75 to 100 mg/kg/day in 3 doses) used in hematology to decrease post-transfusion iron overloads in thalassemia major.

Hence, the investigators wish to evaluate the effect of treatment with an oral iron chelator which is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (deferiprone) on iron overload in the SN(as assessed by the T2* sequence) with respect to the progression of clinical sign in PD. It is expected a 6-month course of deferiprone able to produce a moderate reduction in iron overload of the SN, associated with a drop in the motor handicap score. Depending on the risk/benefit balance determined in this initial pilot study, a larger, multicenter neuroprotection study could be envisaged.

A standard dose-escalation phase will be initiated, with a 3 ml of the deferiprone oral solution twice a day (breakfast and dinner) increase every 3 days up to a total of a fixed dose of 9 ml of deferiprone oral solution twice a day corresponding to 30 mg/kg/day in 2 doses

Other Name: FERRIPROX

Placebo Comparator: placebo

placebo : 30 mg/kg/day, in 2 liquid doses

Drug: placebo

A standard dose-escalation phase will first be initiated, with a 3 ml of the placebo oral solution twice a day (breakfast and dinner) increase every 3 days up to a total of a fixed dose of 9 ml of placebo oral solution twice a day corresponding to 30 mg/kg/day in 2 doses

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Ages Eligible for Study:

30 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Senior)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with typical Parkinson's disease according to the Gibb criteria and the Parkinson's Disease Society criteria (Daniel and Lees, 1993).

Ideally less than 2 to 3 years since disease onset and never more than 4 years.

Patients on dopaminergic drugs and/or L-Dopa.

Non-fluctuating disease because otherwise the degenerative process would be well advanced, the clinical score would vary from one day to another and the imaging evaluation would be complicated by dyskinesia.